The stranger was only a few yards from the place where the Black
Growler had been made fast, and as the boys approached he looked
up and said with a laugh, "Glad to see yer. I thought I'd come
down and look ye up. I wonder if yer got any gasoline?"
"Yes, sir, we have," answered Fred tartly. He was not desirous of
continuing the conversation.
Sam Hodge, who had come with the boys from Henderson Harbor, had
departed soon after the landing at Cape Vincent had been made.
Consequently the Black Growler had been left without any one on
board when the Go Ahead boys had gone to the hotel for their
luncheon. Whether or not the man before them had made
investigations or helped himself to anything of value on board
the boat no one knew. There was, however, no one to prevent him
from doing such things as he had desired.
"Where did you come from?" demanded George as he stepped in front
of the stranger.
"I jes' started for me summer home," laughed the canal-man. "I
didn't think I would go down before the Fourth of July, but the
sight of you boys made me homesick."
"Where is your island?"
"I can't jes' describe it," said the man, "but if you'll give me
a lift in your boat I'll p'int it out to you when we come to it."
"How did you come down here?" demanded George.
"The same as any gintleman might come. I thought of comin' in me
yacht, but I finally decided I'd take me own car and in that way
I would be indepindent of the whole world.
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